Studio couch back rest



Aug. 13', 1940. E. E. WOLLER I STUDIO COUCH BACK REST Filed Sept. 20, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mllhh.

- liu/anzors laiuandl. Waller "WEE:

Aug. 13, 1940- E. E. WOLLER STUDIO COUCH BACK REST Filed Sept. 20. 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [ZZZ/anion Edward lTfi oler Patented Aug. 13, 1940 2,211,222

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STUDIO COUCH BACK REST Edward E. Woller, Kenosha, Wis., assignor to Simmons Company, New York, N.-Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September 20, 1937, Serial No. 164,656-

8 Claims. (01. -59) This invention relates to an improved back I4 disposed on the outside of the ends of the rest construction for employment on a couch couch structure pro-per and suitably rigidly sesuch as a studio couch and which has for its cured thereto. The rear leg portion I4 has conmain object the provision of a back rest which neoted to it a back rest proper which comprises 5 may be quickly and easily displaced so as to end members I5, I5 and upper and lower longi- 5 clear the sleeping surface of the couch structure. tudinal members I6 and I! respectively.

Further objects of the invention are to provide In this instance, the end members I5 and the a back rest construction which may be adjusted upperlongitudinal member I6 are formed inteto-an out-of-the-way position but without wholly grally of tubing bent to shape. The member I! disassembling the back rest from the couch strucmay also be of tubing but it is adjustably conture; to provide a back rest structure which nected to the end members I5, I5 and the latter although adjustable as indicated is sufficiently are pivotally connected to the rear legs I4, I4 of rigid when in its operative back rest position to the arm rest units. efficiently serve its back rest function; to provide The end members I5, I 5 of the back rest struc- 35 a back rest structure such as indicated which will ture are provided with flat, downwardly extendbe easy and relatively inexpensive to manufacing straps such as indicated at I8, the same being ture, and in general, it isthe object of the invene d d O Otherwise rigidly Secured t0 t e end tion to provide an improved back rest structure members H5. The lower ends of the extensions of the type indicated. I8 are pivotally connected as indicated at I9 to Other objects and advantages of the invention the rear leg portions I4 of the arm rest units. 0 will be understood by reference to the following The upper ends of the legs l4 y be sui ably specification and accompanying drawings (2 capp d as i dicated at 20 and the lower ends sheets), wherein there is illustrated a studio of he d members I 5 may be similarly capped couch structure embodying a selected form of as indicated at 2I to finish the ends of the rethe improved back rest. spective parts I4 and J5. A stop 34 may be 25 In the drawings: provided for engaging the extensions I8 to limit Fig. 1 is a perspective of a studio couch upward and forward swinging of the back rest equipped with the improved back rest. uc u e.

Fig. 2 is a section on a vertical plane indi- The lower longitudinal member ll is P vid d cated by the line 22 of Fig. 1. at its ends with transversely extending legs or 30 Fig. 3 is a section in a plane indicated by the arms the e being W ded Or otherwise li 3 3 f Fi 1, Y rigidly secured to the said member I1. At their Fi 4 i a, vi w imflar t Fig, 3, but showing free ends, the arms 22 are pivoted as indicated th b k r t i an adjusted iti at 23 to the end members I5. As shown, the

Fig, 5 i ti on th li 5 5 of Fig, 3, pivot connection 23 is in this instance made with 35 Fig. 6 is an end View of a studio couch structhe upper end Portion of the Strap ember I8 ture equipped with the improved back rest and which may be of somewhat heavier metal than Fig 7 i an d View Similar t Fig t the tubular end member I5. Thus it will appear showing the studio couch structure extended to that the longitudinal member l1 ay be ocked provide b d of superior idth d having th from its normal position as shown in full lines back rest structure adjusted to an out-of-the-way in FigS- 2, 3 and 5, to an elevated p on iti n, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring now t t drawings, t couch v For locking the back rest structure in its nor structure illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a main Inal back rest Position, there is p ovided a latch outside structure I!) having a mattress or cushion bar 24 Which is pivoted as i cated at 25 to the I I thereon. The details of construction of the arm a Short distance from the pivot mo tcouch section proper are not important in coning 23 of the latter. The lower end of the latch nection with the present invention since the inbar 24 is D O d th a detent or Stud 26 which vention proper, as already indicated, relates p oj s laterally from the latch bar o h an particularly to the back rest construction which elongated opening 21 in the extension I8 and 50 may be applied to any desired form of couch into a notch or slot 28 provided in the upper end structure. portion of the leg part I4. The width of the As shown in Fig. 1, the back rest construction slot 27 and of the notch 28 is, as best indicated includes arm rest members I2 having integrally in Fig. 4, just sufficient to permit the pin or connected depending front and rear legs I3 and stud 26 to move therein. It will be apparent 5 that when the parts are in the position indicated in Fig. 5, the back rest structure will be locked in its upwardly extending operative position since the extension I8 is held against rocking on its pivot !9 by the stud 26.

When it is desired to adjust the back rest to an outofthe-way position, the lower longitudinal member l'l thereof is rocked forwardly and upwardly as indicated by the arrows 29 (Fig. 3), during which movement the pivot pin 25 acts as a crank pin swinging about the pivot 23 and lifts or raises the latch bar 24 to thereby withdraw the locking stud 26 from the notch 28. The lower end portion of the leg I5 is suitably notched as indicated at 30, to receive the locking stud 26 when it is withdrawn from the notch 28 in the leg structure [4.

The latch bar 34 is provided adjacent its upper end with an extension or lip 3! which is adapted to engage the pivot pin 23 when the back rest is in operative position. Such engagement serves to limit downward swinging movement of the lower longitudinal back rest member I! and to hold it in its predetermined operative relation to the upper back rest member i5. As shown in the present disclosure, the member I! is normally located in the plane of the back rest members I5, l5, and it, although it will be understood that other relationships may also be employed if preferred. The latch bar 24 is further provided with a notch or recess 32 which is adapted to receive the pivot pin 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, when the back rest member I1 is rocked to its upwardly adjusted position for disengaging the locking stud 26 from the locking notch 28. Such engagement of the latch bar 24 with the pivot pin 23 also serves to limit the swinging movement of the lower member I! of the back rest about its pivot 23.

The described back rest structure may be useful in connection with a single couch structure in that when a couch structure is to be used for sleeping purposes, it is perhaps desirable that the normal back rest structure be displaced so as to fully clear the sleeping surface of the couch. However, the described folding back rest structure has particular utility in connection with studio couch structures which normally comprise a main outer section, of which the section l6 may be typical and an inner section which is adapted to be housed within the main or outer section, when such inner section is not desired for sleeping purposes. Such inner section may be of either the collapsible or non-collapsible variety, both of which are well known in the art. In Fig. '7, there is more or less diagrammatically illustrated the relationship of an outer couch structure, such as typified by the main couch structure Ill, and a collapsible couch unit designated in its entirety 33. When the collapsible couch unit 33 is uncovered and elevated to cause its top surface to be co-planar and contiguous with the sleeping surface of the main unit, it provides a bed structure of superior width. By displacing the back rest structure to a depending position closely adjacent the back of the main structure and below its sleeping surface, the full width of the combined couch sections become freely available for occupancy. As shown in Fig. 6, the collapsible couch section 33 is collapsed and housed within the main or outer couch section I0 and the back rest structure is restored to its normal back rest position.

It will be apparent that the rear leg members M of the arm rest units constitute in effect brackets or posts to which the back rest structure is pivoted. So far as the operation of the back rest structure is concerned, the arm rests proper are not required. It will furthermore be understood that the disengageable locking means described is provided at both ends of the structure so as to rigidly maintain the back rest in operative position. The second longitudinally extending member I! serves to interconnect the locking devices for simultaneous adjustment by a single manual operation, namely, the swinging or rocking of said second longitudinal member about its pivot mountings.

The described structure is simple and easy to operate. It involves a simple rocking of the lower longitudinal back rest member I! to permit folding of the upwardly extending back rest structure to a lowered position wherein it is below the sleeping surface of the couch structure and adjacent the rear side thereof. In this position it ofiers no obstruction to positioning an auxiliary couch section closely adjacent the main structure or the positioning of the main structure adjacent a wall if desired. The parts required for the described structure are of simple forms and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, so that the cost of providing the described foldable back rest structure is within practical limits with reference to commercial considerations. 7

Changes in the described structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state at the art.

I claim:

1. In a couch structure, a back rest comprising a longitudinally extending member and end members extending downwardly from the opposite ends of said longitudinal member, rigid posts extending upwardly from said couch structure, means pivotally connecting said back rest end members to said posts so as to permit folding of said back rest downwardly to substantially inverted position adjacent the back of the couch and with said longitudinal member below the sleeping surface of the couch, means for looking said end members to said posts against rocking movement about said pivotal connections therebetween, and means movably mounted on said back rest for disengaging said locking means to thereby permit such rocking movement.

2. In a couch structure, a back rest comprising a longitudinally extending member and a pair of end members extending downwardly adjacent the opposite ends of said longitudinal member, posts extending upwardly from the couch structure into juxtaposed relation to said end members, depending extensions rigid with said end members and extending into overlapping relation to the respectively adjacent posts and pivotally connected adjacent their lower ends to said posts, disengageable means for interlocking said extensions and posts in spaced relation to said pivotal connection for preventing rocking movement of said back rest structure about the pivotal connections between said extensions and posts, and interconnected means for effecting simultaneous dis-engagement of said interlocking means to permit said rocking movement, said interconnected means comprising a second longitudinal member, arms extending laterally from the ends of said second longitudinal member and pivotally connected adjacent their free ends to said back rest end members, and connections between said arms and said interlocking means, said connections being operable to effect disengagement of said interlocking means as an incident to rocking movement of said second longitudinal member about said pivotal connections between said arms and end members.

3. In combination in a couch of the class described, a back rest structure comprising a longitudinal member and end members extending downwardly adjacent the opposite ends of said longitudinal member, posts extending upwardly from the couch structure into juxtaposed relation to said end members, extensions depending from said end members pivotally connected adjacent their free ends to said posts, whereby said back rest structure is foldable from operative back rest position to an inoperative position depending from said pivotal connections, disengageable means for interlocking said extensions and posts in spaced relation to said pivotal connections to prevent said rocking movement of the back rest structure, said disengageable means comprising studs and said posts and extensions having openings for said studs, and means carried by said back rest structure for effecting simultaneous disengagement of said studs from the notches in said posts so as to permit said rocking movement, said last mentioned means comprising a second longitudinal member, arms extending laterally from the ends of said second longitudinal member and pivotally connected adjacent their free ends to said end members of the back rest structure, whereby said second longitudinal member and arms are adapted to be rocked about the pivotal connections of the latter with the said end members, and link connections between said arms and said studs for efiecting said withdrawal of said studs incident to said rocking movement of said second longitudinal member.

4. In combination in a couch of the class described, a back rest structure comprising a longitudinal member and end members extending downwardly adjacent the opposite ends of said longitudinal member, posts extending upwardly from the couch structure into juxtaposed relation to said end members, extensions depending from said end members pivotally connected adjacent their free ends to said posts, whereby said back rest structure is foldable from operative back rest position to an inoperative position depending from said pivotal connections, disengageable means for interlocking said extensions and posts in spaced relation to said pivotal connections to prevent said rocking movement of the back rest structure, said disengageable means comprising studs and said posts and extensions having openings for said studs, and means carried by said back rest structure for effecting simultaneous disengagement of said studs from the notches in said posts so as to permit said rocking movement, said last mentioned means comprising a second longitudinal member, arms extending laterally from the ends of said second longitudinal member and pivotally connected adjacent their free ends to said end members of the back rest structure, whereby said second longitudinal member and arms are adapted to be rocked about the pivotal connections of the latter with the said end members, and link con nections between said arms and said studs for efiecting said withdrawal of said studs incident to said rocking movement of said second longitudinal member, said links being provided with portions adapted to engage the pivotal connections between said arms and end members for limiting rocking movement of said second longitudinal member and arms.

5. In combination with a couch of the class described, a back rest structure comprising a longitudinal member and end members extending downwardly from the opposite ends of said longitudinal member, means pivotally connecting the lower ends of said depending end members to said couch so as to permit the folding movement of said longitudinal member from operative back rest position to inoperative position below the sleeping surface of the couch and adjacent the rear thereof, disengageable means associated with each pivotal connection of the back rest structure to the couch for locking said back rest structure against such folding movement, and means interconnecting said locking means for simultaneous disengagement by a single operation, said last mentioned means comprising a second longitudinal member having laterally projecting end extensions pivotally mounted adjacent their free ends on the end members of said back rest structure, whereby said second longitudinal member is adapted to be rocked from a predetermined normal position wherein it constitutes a portion of the back rest structure to a displaced position as an incident to which its said end extensions are caused to swing about their pivotal connections with said back rest end members, and operative connections between the respective end extensions and said locking means.

6. A main couch section having a back rest cushion supporting frame adjustably mounted on the couch so as to be movable from normal back rest position to inoperative position below the sleeping surface of the couch and adjacent the rear thereof, said frame comprising upper and lower longitudinally extending members, the lower member being mounted in said back rest so as to be movable to a relatively elevated position therein, whereby, when the back rest is disposed in said inoperative position, said lower member is disposed sufiiciently below the surface of the couch to facilitate the positioning of an auxiliary couch adjacent the back of the main couch to form a double bed.

7. In combination with a couch structure, a back rest comprising a longitudinally extending member and end members, respectively, extending downwardly from the opposite ends of said longitudinal member, said end members being pivotally connected adjacent their lower ends to said couch structure so as to permit the back rest to be folded to substantially inverted position with said longitudinal member disposed adjacent the rear of the couch structure below the top thereof, disengageable means for interlocking each of said end members and couch structure to maintain the back rest in normal back rest position, and means for effecting simultaneous disengagement of said locking means comprising a second longitudinal member normally disposed substantially below said first mentioned longitudinal member and operatively connected at its ends with said interlocking means, said second longitudinal member being movable from normal position in said back rest to a relatively elevated position, wherein said member, when the back rest is inverted, is disposed below the surface of the couch structure sufliciently to facilitate the positioning of an auxiliary couch adjacent the back of the structure to form a double bed.

8. A couch section having a back rest cushion supporting frame adjustably mounted on the couch so as to be movable from normal, upwardly extending, back rest position to inverted po sition adjacent the rear of the couch, said frame comprising upper and lower, longitudinally extending members, the lower member being mounted in the back rest so as to be movable a substantial distance toward the upper member whereby the back rest is adapted to be disposed in said inverted position with said lower member adjusted to a position sufficiently below the surface of the couch to facilitate the positioning of another couch section adjacent the back of the first mentioned couch section to form a double bed.

EDWARD E. WOLLER. 

